Author

Date of Award

Degree Name

Department

First Advisor

Dr. Margaret Joyce

Second Advisor

Dr. Paul D. "Dan" Fleming

Third Advisor

Dr. Bradley J. Bazuin

Fourth Advisor

Dr. Alexandra Pekarovicova

Abstract

In this study, the inkjet printability of materials important to fabricating OTFTs was researched. In order to understand the jetting evolution of inkjet printed inks, simulations were performed with a nano copper and nano particle silver ink. To predict the inkjettability of the nano copper ink, Z and Oh numbers at different temperatures were determined. The results from the simulation studies were compared to experimental results obtained using a Dimatix inkjet printer. For the semiconductor ink, the inkjet printability of two organic semiconductors, P2TDC17FT4 (poly[(3,7-diheptadecylthieno[3,2-b]thieno[2',3':4,5]thieno[2,3-d]thiophene-2,6-diyl)[2,2'-bithiophene]-5,5'-diyl] dissolved in 1,2-dichlorobenzene and P3HT (poly-3 hexylthiophene) were compared to determine the relationship between drop speed, drop volume and firing voltage, as well as the influence of drop spacing and substrate temperature on print quality. From these studies, the printability and print quality were sufficient to realize a fully inkjet printed top gate OTFT. The performance of the P2TDC17FT4, printed under ambient conditions, has important implications to the realization of low cost fully printed OTFTs.